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' UNITE STATES ATENT FFICE- MOLLIE S. GARNES AN D GEORGE HENRYZIMMERMAN, OF POOAHONTAS, VIRGINIA; SAID GARNES ASSIGNOR TO SAIDZIMMERMAN.

WASHBOARD.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 554,177, dated February4, 1896.

Application filed April 17, 1895. Serial No. 546,068. (No model.)

1'0 ctZZ whom it may concern.

Be it kn own that we, MOLLIE S. GARNES and GEORGE HENRY ZIMMERMAN,citizens of the United States, residing at Pocahontas, in the county ofTazewell and State of Virginia, have invented a new and usefulWashboard, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in washboards.

The object of the present invention is to provide a washboard with novelmeans whereby the same is adapted to be held in place within the washtubat any desired angle or inclination, thus obviating the liability of thewashboard slipping and interfering with the work.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear in the courseof the subjoined description.

The invention consists in a washboard hav ing its side frame-barsgrooved on their outer opposite faces, and provided with slottedretaining-plates, within which are mounted longitudinally-sliding blockswhich carry an gular clamping-jaws, said clamping-jaws being adapted toengage with a washtub for the purpose of holding the washboard at thedesired inclination relatively thereto.

The invention further consists in certain novel features and details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts, as hereinafter fully described,illustrated in the drawings and pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of awashboard constructed in accordance with this invention and shownapplied to a washtub. Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken longitudinallythrough one of the side bars of the washboard-frame, in line with thevertically-extending slot in the retainingplate. Fig. 3 is a detailperspective view of one of the angular clamps, showing also the slidingblock in which said clamp is swiveled.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in theseveral figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, the main side bars 1 of our improvedwashboard are connected at their upper ends by the usual headboard 2.The washboard is also provided with the usual soap boX or holder andwith a plurality of parallel rods 4, which are galvanized to enable themto resist rust and form the rubbing-surface of the washboard, said rodsbeing slightly greater in length than the distance between the inneradjacent faces of the side bars 1 of the washboard-frame, and let intocorresponding series of sockets in the inner faces of the side bars 1,as shown. The side bars are connected at or near their top and bottom bysuitable tie bolts or rods 5 and nuts, which prevent their moving apartand releasing the rods 4.

The outer opposite faces of the side bars 1 of the washboard-frame aregrooved lengthwise and adapted to receive an oppositelydisposed pair ofsliding blocks 6, which are held in place within said grooves by meansof an elongated slotted plate or metallic strip '7, the slot in which isappreciably narrower than the width of the groove and also the width ofthe sliding block, which moves lengthwise of said groove. The slottedretaining-plate 7 maybe held in place by means of screws or othersuitable fastening device, and is adapted to effectually prevent theescape of the sliding blocks, while at the same time permitting them tomove freely within the slots.

An oppositely disposed pair of angular clanips 8 are pivotally connectedwith said sliding blocks 6, as more clearly illustrated in Fig. 3, saidclamps being approximately V-shaped and provided with set-screws 9 inthe outer or rear arms thereof, by means of which said clamps areadapted to be engaged positively with the washtub upon the outside.

By reference to Fig. 1 the manner in which the improved washboard isapplied will be readilyunderstood. The washboardis placed within the tuband the angular clamps are drawn upward and passed over the upper edgeof the tub sides. The washboard is now manipulated to bring it to thedesired angle or inclination with relation to the tub, when theset-screws of the clamps are tightened against the exterior surface 'ofthe washtub, which has the effect of holding the washtub rigidly in itsinclined position until released by reversing the set-screws.

The Washboard as above constructed is very simple and may bemanufactured at slight cost.

It Will be apparent that the form of the clamps may be changed, ifdesired, and that other changes in the form, proportion and minordetails of construction and arrangement may be resorted to Withoutdeparting from the spirit or sacrificing any of the ad vantages of thisinvention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent, is-

In a Washboard, the side bars or uprights provided with longitudinalgrooves in their outer faces, in combination With blocks slidablymounted therein, angular clamping-

